Diketopyrrolopyrrole oligomers for use in organic semiconductor devices

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to oligomers of the formula (I), and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, especially in organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes, or in a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. High efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the oligomers according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.

The present invention relates to 1,4-diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) derivatives of formula I, to their manufacture; and to their use as organic semiconductors, e.g. in semiconductor devices, especially a sensor, a diode, a photodiode, an organic field effect transistor, a transistor for flexible displays, and/or a solar cell (photovoltaic cell).

Examples of DPP polymers and their synthesis are, for example, described in US6451459B1, WO05/049695, WO2008/000664, EP2034537A2, EP2075274A1, WO2010/049321, WO2010/049323, WO2010/108873, WO2010/115767, WO2010/136353, WO2010/136352 and WO2011/144566 (PCT/EP2011/057878).

Matthias Horn et al., Eur. Polymer J. 38 (2002) 2197-2205 describes the synthesis and characterisation of thermomesogenic polysiloxanes with 2,5-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole units in the main chain.

M. Smet et al., Tetrahedron Letters 42 (2001) 6257-6530 describes oligomers, which are prepared by a stepwise sequence of suzuki couplings using brominated 1,4-dioxo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4c]pyrrole (DPP derivatives) and 1,4-dibromo-2,5-di-n-hexylbenzene as the monomers. The resulting oligomers contained three, five and seven DPP units, respectively.

WO2003048268 relates to an organic electroluminescent device comprising a perylene derivative and a diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative, such as, for example,

WO06/061343 discloses fluorescent diketopyrrolopyrroles of the formula

wherein R¹ and R² may be the same or different and are selected from a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, an allyl group, which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₃alkyl, a cycloalkyl group, which can optionally be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, a cycloalkyl group, which is condensed one or two times by phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₄-alkyl, halogen, nitro, or cyano, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a heterocyclic group, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, a heterocyclic group, a ketone or aldehyde group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, a silyl group, a siloxanyl group, aryl, heteroaryl, or —CR³R⁴—(CH₂)_(m)-A³ wherein R³ and R⁴ independently from each other stand for hydrogen or C₁-C₄alkyl, or phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₃alkyl, A³ stands for aryl, or heteroaryl, in particular phenyl or 1- or 2-naphthyl, which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, and m stands for 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, A⁴ and A⁵ independently of each other stands for

wherein R¹⁰¹ to R¹²³ may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyl, a mercapto group, alkoxy, alkylthio, an aryl ether group, an aryl thioether group, aryl, a heterocyclic group, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, a cyano group, an aldehyde group, a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, a group NR²⁷R²⁸, wherein R²⁷ and R²⁸ are as defined above, a nitro group, a silyl group, a siloxanyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl group, or at least two adjacent substituents R¹¹⁵ to R¹²¹ form an aromatic, heteroaromatic or aliphatic fused ring system, R¹²⁴ and R¹²⁵ may be the same or different and are selected from C₁-C₁₈alkyl; C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, A³, C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₇-C₁₈aralkyl; or R¹²⁴ and R¹²⁵ together form a ring especially a five-, six- or seven-membered ring, which can optionally be substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl, or which can optionally be condensed one or two times by phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈-alkyl, C₁-C₈-alkoxy, halogen and cyano; or a heteroaromatic group, especially

wherein R¹³¹ to R¹⁵² may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyl, a mercapto group, alkoxy, alkylthio, an aryl ether group, an aryl thioether group, aryl, a heterocyclic group, halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, a cyano group, an aldehyde group, a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, a group NR²⁷R²⁸, wherein R²⁷ and R²⁸ are as defined above, a nitro group, a silyl group, a siloxanyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl group, R¹⁵³ is a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, which might be interrupted by —O—, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, and A⁶ is cycloalkyl, arylene, or heteroarylene, which are optionally substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈-alkyl, or C₁-C₈-alkoxy; and their use for the preparation of inks, colorants, pigmented plastics for coatings, non-impact-printing material, color filters, cosmetics, polymeric ink particles, toners, as fluorescent tracers, in color changing media, in solid dye lasers, EL lasers and electroluminescent devices.

The following compounds are explicitly mentioned in WO06/061343:

Cpd. A⁴ = A⁵ A⁶ R¹ = R² D-1

CH₃ D-2

CH₃ D-3

CH₃ D-4

CH₃ D-5

CH₃ D-6

CH₃ D-7

CH₃

JP2006310538 discloses fluorescent diketopyrrolopyrroles of the formula

wherein Ar⁶ may be aryl, or heteroryl, and its use in light emitting elements.

WO2007/003520 relates to fluorescent compounds, such as, for example,

a process for their prepn. and their use for the prepn. of inks, colorants, pigmented plastics for coatings, non-impact-printing material, color12 filters, cosmetics, polymeric ink particles, toners, as fluorescent tracers, in color changing media, dye lasers and electroluminescent devices.

US2010/0326525 relates to optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic devices, comprising:

a) a first hole-collecting electrode; b) an optional hole-transporting layer; c) a layer comprising a mixture of an electron donor material and an electron acceptor material; and d) a second electron-collecting electrode, wherein the electron donor material comprises a compound of Formula (I):

wherein X is oxygen or sulfur; A₁ and A₂ are independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl groups, wherein each individual A₁ within the (A₁)m moiety can be independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group, and each individual A₂ within the (A₂)n moiety can be independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group; B₁ is independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl groups; m is independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; n is independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; p is independently selected from 0 or 1; E₁ and E₂ are independently selected from a nonentity, H, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group or a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group; and R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, and —C(—O)—O—C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.

The following dimeric DPP compound is explicitly disclosed:

Y. Xu et al., Synthetic Metals 160 (2010) 2135-2142 reports the synthesis of DPP-containing oligomers:

The monomers were copolymerized with benzothiadiazole, dioctyloxybenzene and fluorene through fluoride-mediated Suzuki polymerization to give copolymers with low content of DPP (1 mol %). The copolymers were used as the emitting layers in the light-emitting diodes.

R. A. J. Janssen et al., Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2011, 212, 515-520 disclose diketopyrrolopyrrole-based oligomers of formula

(R=2-hexyldecyl; n=1 to 4), which were prepared nickel (0)-mediated Yamamoto coupling reaction of a mixture of mono- and dibrominated monomers

Monodisperse oligomers were obtained from the resulting mixture by separation of the oligomers using recycling GPC. Their optical and electrochemical properties were investigated. For all properties, measured in solution, no clear change was observed upon increase of the chain length, leading to the conclusion that conjugation in this system is only very limited.

Stephen Loser et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., DOI: 10.1021/ja202791n•Publication Date (Web): 5 May 2011 describes the synthesis, characterization, and first implementation of a naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b′]dithiophene (NDT)-based donor molecule in highly efficient organic photovoltaics (OPVs). When NDT(TDPP)₂ (TDPP=thiophene-capped diketopyrrolopyrrole:

R=2-ethylhexyl)) is combined with the electron acceptor PC61BM, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.06±0.06% is achieved.

Yuning Li et al., J. Mater. Chem. 21 (2011) 10829 [published on web: 9 Jun. 2011] discloses the synthesis of the following polymer

(R=2-octyldodecyl) and its use in OFETs.

C. H. Woo et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132 (2010) 15547 [published on web: 14 Oct. 2010] discloses the synthesis of the following polymers

R=2-ethylhexyl, X═S, Y═S; X═O, Y═S; or X═O, Y═O; and its use in solar cells.

R. A. J. Janssen et al., J. Mater. Chem. 21 (2011) 1600 [published on web: 6 Dec. 2010] discloses the synthesis of the following polymers

R=2-hexyldecyl, X═O, Y═S; X═O, Y═O; or X═S, Y═O; and its use in OFETs and solar cells.

EP2033983A2 is directed to DPP polymers having a structure represented by:

wherein each X is independently selected from S, Se, O, and NR″, each R″ is independently selected from hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon, and a hetero-containing group, each Z is independently one of an optionally substituted hydrocarbon, a hetero-containing group, and a halogen, d is a number which is at least 1, e is a number from zero to 2; a represents a number that is at least 1; b represents a number from 0 to 20; each M is an optional, conjugated moiety and n represents a number that is at least 1.

Among others the following polymers are disclosed:

wherein n is the number of repeat units and can be from about 2 to about 5000, R′″, R″″ and R′″″ can be the same or different substituent, and wherein the substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group and a heteroatom-containing group. For n is 2 no end group is defined.

WO2011025454A1 discloses compounds of formula

and its use in electronic devices. X is O, S or Se. D can be among others

Among others the following polymers are disclosed:

wherein n is 2 to 15000. For n is 2 no end group is defined.

It is the object of the present invention to provide compounds, which show high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability, when used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.

It has surprisingly been found that certain dimeric, trimeric and quatermeric diketo-pyrrolopyrrol derivatives can be used as organic semiconductors. Said derivatives have excellent solubility in non-halogenated organic solvents (allowing easy handling). They can be synthesized easier than polymers (allowing cost savings), and they are easy to purify (allowing very pure products to be obtained at low cost).

Accordingly, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula

wherein p is 0, or 1, q is 0, or 1, A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

a is 1 or 2; b is 0, 1 or 2; c is 0, 1 or 2; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₀₀alkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₂-C₁₀₀ alkenyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₀₀alkinyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, a C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl; R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted one or more times by E and/or interrupted one or more times by D,

COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈ cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈thioalkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, or a

Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —Si(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —Ge(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═CR¹⁴R¹⁵)—,

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or 2-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo,

or form a five or six membered ring, which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CN or COOR⁵⁰; R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which optionally can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R²⁰ and R²¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the (hetero)aromatic residue and which may both have up to 4 carbon atoms, R³⁰ to R³⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁵⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other H, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈ cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms,

D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —O—, —NR³⁹—, or —C(═O)NR³⁹—,

E is C₁-C₈thioalkoxy, COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, CN, —NR³⁹R^(39′), —CONR³⁹R^(39′), or halogen,

G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³⁹ and R^(39′) are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, with the proviso that at least one of the groups Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ is a group of formula;

and the further proviso that Ar⁵ is different from a group

if q is 0, p is 0, k is 0, r is 0, z is 0 and l is 1.

The molecules of formula (I) consist preferably of a mirror-symmetrical sequence of building blocks selected from Ar¹ to Ar⁷ and the diketopyrrolopyrrole basic skeletons.

The compound of formula I is preferably a compound of formula

wherein A¹, A², A³, A⁴, A⁵, R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are as defined above.

At least one Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ is a group

Preferably at least one of Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ is a group.

More preferably Ar¹ is

Most preferably Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are a group

If Ar¹, Ar⁴ or Ar⁷ is a furan ring, the furan ring is preferably mono-substituted (position away from the DPP)

or not substituted, most preferably not substituted

R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are preferably selected from hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₀₀alkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂4 aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —COO— or —OCO—,

a C₂-C₁₀₀alkenyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —COO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₀₀alkinyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —COO— or —OCO—, a C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —COO— or —OCO—, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, cyano, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl.

More preferably R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl. Even more preferably R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are a C₁-C₅₀₀alkyl group. Still more preferably R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are a C₁-C₃₆alkyl group. Most preferably R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are a C₁₂-C₂₄alkyl group, very especially a C₁₆-C₂₄alkyl group. Preferably R¹ is R², R^(1′) is R^(2′), R^(1″) is R^(2″) and R^(1*) is R^(2*). Most preferably R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) have the same meaning.

Advantageously, the groups R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) can be represented by formula,

wherein m1=n1+2 and m1+n1≦24. Chiral side chains, such as R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*), can either be homochiral, or racemic, which can influence the morphology of the compounds.

Preferably a is 1; b is 0, 1, or 2; c is 0, 1, or 2; more preferably a is 1; b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1; still more preferably a is 1; b is 0, or 1; c is 0; most preferably a is 1; b is 0; c is 0.

Preferably k+l+r+z is an integer smaller than 5; more preferably k+l+r+z is an integer from 1 to 4; even more preferably k+l+r+z is an integer from 1 to 3; most preferably k+l+r+z is 1 or 3. If q is 0, p is 0, k is 0, r is 0, z is 0 and l is 1, Ar⁵ is preferably different from a group

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention two furan groups are not linked directly by a single bond.

Preferably A¹ and A² are the same in the compounds of formulas (Ia), (Ib) and (Ic). Preferably A³ and A⁴ are the same in the compound of formula (Ib). Preferably A³ and A⁵ are the same in the compound of formula (Ic). More preferably A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are the same in the compound of formula (Ic).

A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl; R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, or a group of formula

wherein R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₂₅alkyl; R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms.

Preferably, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula,

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1,

Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other

and R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl.

More preferably, A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k and z are 0, or 1; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0; Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are a group of formula

Ar⁵ is a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3, R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy.

Preferably R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, or a group of formula

More preferably R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl or

Still more preferably R³ is hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅ alkyl. Most preferably R³ is hydrogen.

Preferably Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are preferably selected in such a manner, so that no six-membered ring is directly attached to the diketopyrrolopyrrole basis skeleton.

More preferably Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are preferably selected in such a manner, so that no six-membered ring is directly attached to the diketopyrrolopyrrole basis skeleton.

Even more preferably Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula

Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are preferably selected in such a manner, so that no six-membered ring is directly attached to the diketopyrrolopyrrole basis skeleton.

If two moieties selected from Ar¹ to Ar⁷ are linked via a single bond, preferably less than 4 substituents in ortho position to this linking bond selected from R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R²⁰, R²¹, R³⁰, R³¹, R³², R³³, R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁶, R³⁷, R³⁸, R⁴⁰, R⁴¹ are not hydrogen. More preferably less than 3 substituents in ortho position to this linking bond selected from R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R²⁰, R²¹, R³⁰, R³¹, R³², R³³, R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁶, R³⁷, R³⁸, R⁴⁰, R⁴¹ are not hydrogen. Even more preferably only one substituent in ortho position to this linking bond selected from R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R²⁰, R²¹, R³⁰, R³¹, R³², R³³, R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁶, R³⁷, R³⁸, R⁴⁰, R⁴¹ is not hydrogen. Most preferably all substituents in ortho position to this linking bond selected from R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R²⁰, R²¹, R³⁰, R³¹, R³², R³³, R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁶, R³⁷, R³⁸, R⁴⁰, R⁴¹ are hydrogen.

If a moiety selected from Ar¹, Ar⁴ or Ar⁷ is linked via a single bond to the DPP basis skeleton, preferably the substituents in ortho position to this linking bond selected from R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R²⁰, R²¹, R³⁰, R³¹, R³², R³³, R³⁴, R³⁵, R³⁶, R³⁷, R³⁸, R⁴⁰, R⁴¹ are hydrogen.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein k is 1, I is 1, z is 1, and r is 0,

Ar¹, Ar⁴, and Ar⁷ are

Ar², Ar³, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ are independently of each other a group of formula

Ar¹, Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are preferably selected in such a manner, so that no six-membered ring is directly attached to the diketopyrrolopyrrole basis skeleton.

Preferably X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —Si(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—,

More preferably X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—,

Most preferably X is —S—, —NR¹⁰—, or

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, preferably hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ alkanoyl; most preferably C₁-C₁₈alkyl.

Preferably R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo, or

More preferably R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo. Most preferably R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl.

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CN or COOR⁵⁰. Preferably R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, —CN, or COOR⁵⁰, where more preferably at least one of R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ is —CN, or COOR⁵⁰, and especially R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are both —CN.

R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₀alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group.

Preferably R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are C₁-C₁₈ alkyl.

Preferably R²⁰ and R²¹, are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or halogen. More preferably R²⁰ and R²¹, are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, or halogen. Even more preferably R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. Most preferably R²⁰ and R²¹ are hydrogen;

Preferably R³⁰ to R³⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or halogen. More preferably R³⁰ to R³⁸ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, or halogen. Even more preferably R³⁰ to R³⁸ are independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. Most preferably R³⁰ to R³⁸ are hydrogen.

Preferably R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, COOR⁵⁰, or cyano. More preferably R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹, are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or cyano. Even more preferably R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. Most preferably R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl.

Preferably R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈ alkyl.

R⁵⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl. R⁵⁰ is preferably C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, most preferably C₁-C₂₅alkyl.

Preferably R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, or halogen. More preferably R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. Most preferably R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent hydrogen.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the present invention is directed to compounds of formula

Even more preferred are compounds of formula

In another particularly preferred embodiment the present invention is directed to compounds of formula

Even more preferred are compounds of formula

b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1.

A³, A⁴, Ar⁵ and Ar⁶ are independently of each other a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3.

Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other

R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl. R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl. R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy.

R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl.

At present most preferred are compounds A-1 to A-22, B-1 and B-2. Reference is made to claim 9.

In an additional embodiment the present invention is directed to compounds of formula

wherein A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a group of formula

R^(3′) is independently in each occurrence ZnX¹², —SnR²⁰⁷R²⁰⁸R²⁰⁹, wherein R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸ and R²⁰⁹ are identical or different and are H or C₁-C₆alkyl, wherein two radicals optionally form a common ring and these radicals are optionally branched or unbranched and X¹² is a halogen atom, very especially I, or Br; —OS(O)₂CF₃, —OS(O)₂-aryl, especially

—OS(O)₂CH₃, —B(OH)₂, —B(OH)₃—, —BF₃, —B(OY¹)₂,

wherein Y¹ is independently in each occurrence a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group and Y² is independently in each occurrence a C₂-C₁₀alkylene group, such as —CY³Y⁴—CY⁵Y⁶—, or —CY⁷Y⁸—CY⁹Y¹⁰—CY¹¹Y¹²—, wherein Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, Y¹⁰, Y¹¹ and Y¹² are independently of each other hydrogen, or a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, especially —C(CH₃)₂C(CH₃)₂—, —C(CH₃)₂CH₂C(CH₃)₂—, or —CH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂—, and Y¹³ and Y¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, or a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group; a, b, c, q, p, R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*), R^(2*), Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are as defined above.

The compound of formula X is preferably a compound of formula

The compounds of the formula X, especially Xa, Xb and Xc are intermediates in the production of polymers and can be used in the production of polymers.

Accordingly, the present invention is also directed to polymers comprising repeating units of formula

wherein A^(1″) and A^(2″) are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a, b, c, p, q, R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*), R^(2*), Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are as defined above. The polymers of the present invention may be used in the production of semiconductor devices. Accordingly, the present invention is also directed to semiconductor devices comprising a polymer of the present invention.

A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula

(R¹═R²═R^(1*)═R^(2*); A¹=A²) comprises (a) reacting (in the presence of a strong base) 2 mole of a disuccinate with 1 mole of a nitrile of the formula

and 2 mole of a nitrile of the formula

(b) reacting the compound of formula

obtained in step a) with a halogenide of the formula R¹—X¹⁶ (X¹⁶ is halogen, especially iodide or bromide) in the presence of a suitable base, like potassium carbonate, in a suitable solvent, like N-methylpyrrolidone.

A further synthesis route is, for example, the reaction of mono-halogenated compounds

under Yamamoto reaction conditions with the aid of a Nickel complex, wherein compounds of formula

are obtained. X¹⁵ is a halogen atom, especially Br, or I. I and z are independently of each other 1, or 2. k is 0, 1 or 2. r is 0, or 1. R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), A¹ and A² are as defined above. Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶, Ar⁷ and A³, respectively are as defined above.

Another process for the preparation of compounds of formula

wherein R² is R^(1*), comprises (a) reacting (in the presence of a strong base) 2 moles of a compound of formula

(R²⁰⁰ and R^(200′) are independently of each other a C₁-C₈alkyl group, or a benzyl group) with 1 mole of a di-nitrile compound of the formula

(b) and then alkylation of the compound of formula

obtained in step (a) with a compound R²—X¹⁶ (X¹⁶ is halogen, especially iodide or bromide) under basic conditions (preferably K₂CO₃) in a dry solvent such as e.g. dimethylformamide.

The compounds of formula XV and XV′ can be synthesized, for example, in analogy to the methods described in C. Morton et al., Tetrahedron 58 (2002) 5547-5565.

Another process for the preparation of a compound of the formula

(R¹═R²═R^(1*)═R^(2*)) comprises (a) reacting (in the presence of a strong base) 2 mole of a disuccinate with 1 mole of a nitrile of the formula

and 2 mole of a nitrile of the formula

(b) reacting the compound of formula

obtained in step a) with a halogenide of the formula R¹—X¹⁶ (X¹⁶ is halogen, especially Br, or I) in the presence of a suitable base, like potassium carbonate, in a suitable solvent, like N-methyl-pyrrolidone, R¹, R^(1′), R^(2′), A¹, A², A³ and A⁴ are as defined above. Compounds of formula

can be prepared by reacting

wherein X¹⁴ is halogen, such as, for example, Br, or I, with copper(I)cyanide. The reaction with copper(I)cyanide is carried out in a suitable solvent, like dimethylforamide (DMF) and is carried out at a temperature from about room temperature to about 180° C., preferably from about 100° C. to about 170° C., e.g. at 130° C. Reference is made to WO2012/041849 and Frank Würthner et al., Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 1767-1769.

Another process for the preparation of compounds of formula

wherein R² is R^(1*), comprises (a) reacting (in the presence of a strong base) 2 moles of a compound of formula

(R²⁰⁰ and R^(200′) are independently of each other a C₁-C₈alkyl group, or a benzyl group) with 1 mole of a di-nitrile compound of the formula

(b) and then alkylation of the compound of formula

obtained in step (a) with a compound R²—X¹⁶ (X¹⁶ is halogen, especially iodide or bromide) under basic conditions (preferably K₂CO₃) in a dry solvent such as e.g. dimethylformamide.

Alternatively, compounds of the formula

(R¹═R^(1*); R²═R^(2*),

A³ is a group of formula

Ar⁴ is Ar⁷, k is 1, or 2, z is 1,

or 2) may be prepared by reacting a compound of formula

with a compound of formula

wherein X^(16′) is —B(OH)₂, —B(OH)₃—, —BF₃, —B(OY¹)₂,

and X¹⁶ is halogen, such as, for example, Br, or I.

The Suzuki reaction is typically conducted at about 0° C. to 180° C. in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent such as toluene, xylene. Other solvents such as dimethylformamide, dioxane, dimethoxyethan and tetrahydrofuran can also be used alone, or in mixtures with an aromatic hydrocarbon. An aqueous base, preferably sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, potassium carbonate or bicarbonate is used as activation agent for the boronic acid, boronate and as the HBr scavenger. A condensation reaction may take 0.2 to 100 hours. Organic bases, such as, for example, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, and phase transfer catalysts, such as, for example TBAB, can promote the activity of the boron (see, for example, Leadbeater & Marco; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng. 42 (2003) 1407 and references cited therein). Other variations of reaction conditions are given by T. I. Wallow and B. M. Novak in J. Org. Chem. 59 (1994) 5034-5037; and M. Remmers, M. Schulze, and G. Wegner in Macromol. Rapid Commun. 17 (1996) 239-252.

The compounds of the present invention can also be sythesized by the Stille coupling (see, for example, Babudri et al, J. Mater. Chem., 2004, 14, 11-34; J. K. Stille, Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. Engl. 1986, 25, 508). In order to carry out the process, tin compounds

wherein X^(16′) is —SnR²⁰⁷R²⁰⁸R²⁰⁹, and the halogen compound

are preferably introduced into one or more inert organic solvents and stirred at a temperature of from 0 to 200° C., preferably from 30 to 170° C. for a period of from 1 hour to 200 hours, preferably from 5 hours to 150 hours.

Reference is made to WO2009/047104 and WO2012/041849 with respect to the preparation of the strating materials and the compounds of formula I.

In the above Stille and Suzuki coupling reactions the halogen X¹⁶ on the halogenated reaction partner can be replaced with the X^(16′) moiety and at the same time the X^(16′) moiety of the other reaction partner is replaced by X¹⁶.

Compounds of formula Ib can be prepared in analogy to the synthesis of compounds of formula Ia via Suzuki, or Stille reaction starting from the corresponding building blocks, e.g.: Two equivalents of a compound of formula

are reacted with one equivalent of a compound of formula

to give a compound of formula

The compounds, wherein R¹, R², R^(1′), R², R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and/or R^(2*) are hydrogen can be obtained by using a protecting group which can be removed after synthesis of the precursor compound (see, for example, EP-A-0648770, EP-A-0648817, EP-A-0742255, EP-A-0761772, WO98/32802, WO98/45757, WO98/58027, WO99/01511, WO00/17275, WO00/39221, WO00/63297 and EP-A-1086984). Conversion of the precursor compound into the desired final compound is carried out by means of fragmentation under known conditions, for example thermally, optionally in the presence of an additional catalyst, for example the catalysts described in WO00/36210.

An example of such a protecting group is group of formula

wherein L is any desired group suitable for imparting solubility.

L is preferably a group of formula

wherein Z¹, Z² and Z³ are independently of each other C₁-C₆alkyl, Z⁴ and Z⁸ are independently of each other C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or N(Z¹²)₂, or unsubstituted or C₁-C₆alkyl-, C₁-C₆alkoxy-, halo-, cyano- or nitro-substituted phenyl or biphenyl, Z⁵, Z⁶ and Z⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkyl, Z⁹ is hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl or a group of formula

Z¹⁰ and Z¹¹ are each independently of the other hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, C₁-C₆alkoxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, N(Z¹²)₂, or unsubstituted or halo-, cyano-, nitro-, C₁-C₆alkyl- or C₁-C₆alkoxy-substituted phenyl, Z¹² and Z¹³ are C₁-C₆alkyl, Z¹⁴ is hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkyl, and Z¹⁵ is hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl, or unsubstituted or C₁-C₆alkyl-substituted phenyl, Q is p,q-C₂-C₆alkylene unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₁-C₆alkylthio or C₂-C₁₂dialkylamino, wherein p and q are different position numbers, X is a hetero atom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, m′ being the number 0 when X is oxygen or sulfur and m being the number 1 when X is nitrogen, and L¹ and L² are independently of each other unsubstituted or mono- or poly-C₁-C₁2 alkoxy-, —C₁-C₁₂alkylthio-, —C₂-C₂₄dialkylamino-, —C₆-C₁₂aryloxy-, —C₆-C₁₂arylthio-, —C₇-C₂₄alkylarylamino- or —C₁₂-C₂₄diarylamino-substituted C₁-C₆alkyl or [-(p′,q′—C₂-C₆alkylene)-Z-]_(n′)-C₁-C₆alkyl, n′ being a number from 1 to 1000, p′ and q′ being different position numbers, each Z independently of any others being a hetero atom oxygen, sulfur or C₁-C₁₂alkyl-substituted nitrogen, and it being possible for C₂-C₆alkylene in the repeating [—C₂-C₆alkylene-Z-] units to be the same or different, and L₁ and L₂ may be saturated or unsaturated from one to ten times, may be uninterrupted or interrupted at any location by from 1 to 10 groups selected from the group consisting of —(C═O)— and —C₆H₄—, and may carry no further substituents or from 1 to 10 further substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano and nitro. Most preferred L is a group of formula

The disuccinates to be used in the process according to the invention include dialkyl, diaryl or monoalkyl-monoaryl succinates. The dialkyl and diaryl succinates may also be asymmetrical. However, it is preferred to use symmetrical disuccinates, most preferably symmetrical dialkyl succinates, most preferably symmetrical dialkyl succinates. If a diaryl or monoaryl-monoalkyl succinate is employed, aryl denotes preferably phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen such as chlorine, C₁₋₆-alkyl such as ethyl, methyl, isopropyl or tert-butyl, or C₁₋₆-alkoxy such as methoxy or ethoxy. The preferred meaning of aryl is unsubstituted phenyl. If a dialkyl or monoalkyl-monoaryl succinate is employed, then alkyl may be unbranched or branched, preferably branched, and may contain preferably 1 to 18, in particular 1 to 12, more particularly 1 to 8 and more preferably 1 to 5, carbon atoms. Branched alkyl is preferably sec- or tert-alkyl, for example, isopropyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-amyl and cyclohexyl.

Examples of disuccinates are dimethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, dipropyl succinate, dibutyl succinate, dipentyl succinate, dihexyl succinate, diheptyl succinate, dioctyl succinate, diisopropyl succinate, di-sec-butyl succinate, di-tert-butyl succinate, di-tert-amyl succinate, di-[1,1-dimethylbutyl]succinate, di-[1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl]succinate, di-[1,1dimethylpentyl]succinate, di-[1-methyl-ethylbutyl]succinate, di-[1,1-diethylpropyl]succinate, diphenyl succinate, di-[4-methylphenyl]succinate, di-[4-chlorophenyl]succinate, monoethyl-monophenyl succinate, and dicyclohexyl succinate. Most preferably, the starting disuccinate is diisopropyl succinate.

The disuccinates are known compounds and may be prepared by known methods.

Typically, the nitriles and the disuccinate are used in stoichiometric proportions. It can be advantageous to use the nitriles to be reacted with the disuccinate in more than only stoichiometric proportions. An excess of disuccinate over the nitrile can often have a positive influence on the yield, in which case the excess may be up to twice the stoichiometrically required amount of disuccinate.

The reaction of the disuccinate with the nitriles is carried out in an organic solvent. Examples of suitable solvents are primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 3-methyl-3pentanol, 2-methyl-2-hexanol, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentanol, or glycols such as ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol; and also ethers such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxan, or glycol ethers such as ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; as well as dipolar aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, benzonitrile, dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, nitrobenzene, N-methylpyrrolidone; aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene or benzene substituted by alkyl, alkoxy or halogen, for example, toluene, xylene, anisole or chlorobenzene; or aromatic heterocyclic compounds such as pyridine, picoline or quinoline. Mixtures of the above solvents may also be used. It is convenient to use 5 to 20 parts be weight of solvent per 1 part by weight of reactants.

In the process according to the invention, it is preferred to use an alcohol as solvent, in particular a secondary or tertiary alcohol. Preferred tertiary alcohols are tert-butanol and tert-amyl alcohol. Mixtures of these preferred solvents with aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene, or halogen-substituted benzene such as chlorobenzene, are also useful.

The process according to the invention is carried out in the presence of a strong base. Suitable strong bases are in particular the alkali metals themselves such as lithium, sodium or potassium, or alkali metal amides such as lithium amide, sodium amide or potassium amide, or alkali metal hydrides such as lithium, sodium or potassium hydride, or alkaline earth metal alcoholates or alkali metal alcoholates which are derived preferably from primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic alcohols containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example, lithium methylate, sodium methylate or potassium methylate, or lithium, sodium or potassium ethylate, lithium, sodium or potassium n-propylate, lithium, sodium or potassium iso-propylate, lithium, sodium or potassium n-butylate, lithium, sodium or potassium sec-butylate, lithium, sodium or potassium tert-butylate, lithium, sodium or potassium 2-methyl-2-butylate, lithium, sodium or potassium 2-methyl-2-pentylate, lithium, sodium or potassium 3-methyl-3-pentylate, lithium, sodium or potassium 3-ethyl-3-pentylate or lithium, sodium or potassium 3-ethyl-3-pentylate. Additionally, a mixture of these bases may also be employed.

The preferred strong base is an alkali metal alcoholate, the alkali metals being preferably sodium or potassium and the alcoholate being preferably derived from a secondary or tertiary alcohol. Particularly preferred strong bases are therefore, for example, sodium or potassium isopropylate, sodium or potassium sec-butylate, sodium or potassium tert-butylate and sodium or potassium tert-amylate. Moreover, the alkali metal alcoholates may be prepared in situ by reacting the appropriate alcohol with the alkali metal, alkali metal hydride or alkali metal amide.

The strong base is employed in an amount of preferably from about 0.1 to about 10 moles, most preferably from about 1.9 to about 4.0 moles, based on one mole of the disuccinate. Although a stoichiometric amount of base may suffice, an excess of base has been found to have an advantageous effect on the yield.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

C₁-C₂₅alkyl (C₁-C₁₈alkyl) is typically linear or branched, where possible. Examples are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3pentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylpentyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylhexyl, 1,1,3,3,5,5hexamethylhexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylheptyl, 3-methylheptyl, n-octyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl, tetracosyl or pentacosyl. C₁-C₈alkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-propyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl. C₁-C₄alkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl. A haloalkyl group is an alkyl group, wherein one, or more than one hydrogen atoms are repled by halogen atoms.

C₂-C₂₅alkenyl (C₂-C₁₈alkenyl) groups are straight-chain or branched alkenyl groups, such as e.g. vinyl, allyl, methallyl, isopropenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isobutenyl, n-penta-2,4-dienyl, 3-methyl-but-2-enyl, n-oct-2-enyl, n-dodec-2-enyl, isododecenyl, n-dodec-2-enyl or n-octadec-4-enyl.

C₂₋₂₅alkynyl (C₂₋₁₈alkynyl) is straight-chain or branched and preferably C₂₋₈alkynyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, ethynyl, 1-propyn-3-yl, 1-butyn-4-yl, 1-pentyn-5-yl, 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-yl, 1,4-pentadiyn-3-yl, 1,3-pentadiyn-5-yl, 1-hexyn-6-yl, cis-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, trans-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, 1,3-hexadiyn-5-yl, 1-octyn-8-yl, 1-nonyn-9-yl, 1-decyn-10-yl, or 1-tetracosyn-24-yl.

Aliphatic groups can, in contrast to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, be substituted by any acyclic substituents, but are preferably unsubstituted. Preferred substituents are C₁-C₈alkoxy or C₁-C₈alkylthio groups as exemplified further below. The term “aliphatic group” comprises also alkyl groups wherein certain non-adjacent carbon atoms are replaced by oxygen, like —CH₂—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃. The latter group can be regarded as methyl substituted by —O—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃.

An aliphatic hydrocarbon group having up to 25 carbon atoms is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl (also spelled alkinyl) group having up to 25 carbon atoms as exemplified above.

Alkylene is bivalent alkyl, i.e. alkyl having two (instead of one) free valencies, e.g. trimethylene or tetramethylene.

Alkenylene is bivalent alkenyl, i.e. alkenyl having two (instead of one) free valencies, e.g. —CH₂—CH═CH—CH₂—.

Aliphatic groups can, in contrast to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, be substituted by any acyclic substituents, but are preferably unsubstituted. Preferred substituents are C₁-C₈alkoxy or C₁-C₈alkylthio groups as exemplified further below. The term “aliphatic group” comprises also alkyl groups wherein certain non-adjacent carbon atoms are replaced by oxygen, like —CH₂—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃. The latter group can be regarded as methyl substituted by —O—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃.

A cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group is a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group which may be substituted by one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups.

A cycloaliphatic-aliphatic group is an aliphatic group substituted by a cycloaliphatic group, wherein the terms “cycloaliphatic” and “aliphatic” have the meanings given herein and wherein the free valency extends from the aliphatic moiety. Hence, a cycloaliphatic-aliphatic group is for example a cycloalkyl-alkyl group.

A cycloalkyl-alkyl group is an alkyl group substituted by a cycloalkyl group, e.g. cyclohexyl-methyl.

A “cycloalkenyl group” means an unsaturated alicyclic hydrocarbon group containing one or more double bonds, such as cyclopentenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexenyl and the like, which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups and/or condensed with phenyl groups.

A bivalent group of the formula

wherein R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms, is e.g. a group of the formula

wherein A represents linear or branched alkylene having up to 25 carbon atoms, preferably ethylene or propylene which may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups, and Y represents oxygen or sulphur. For example, the bivalent group of the formula —Y-A-O— represents —O—CH₂—CH₂—O— or —O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—O—.

C₁-C₂₅alkoxy groups (C₁-C₁₈alkoxy groups) are straight-chain or branched alkoxy groups, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, amyloxy, isoamyloxy or tert-amyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, isooctyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, undecyloxy, dodecyloxy, tetradecyloxy, pentadecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, heptadecyloxy and octadecyloxy. Examples of C₁-C₈alkoxy are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy, n-pentoxy, 2-pentoxy, 3-pentoxy, 2,2-dimethylpropoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutoxy and 2-ethylhexoxy, preferably C₁-C₄alkoxy such as typically methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy. The term “alkylthio group” means the same groups as the alkoxy groups, except that the oxygen atom of the ether linkage is replaced by a sulfur atom.

C₁-C₁₈perfluoroalkyl, especially C₁-C₄perfluoroalkyl, is a branched or unbranched radical such as for example —CF₃, —CF₂CF₃, —CF₂CF₂CF₃, —CF(CF₃)₂, —(CF₂)₃CF₃, and —C(CF₃)₃.

The term “carbamoyl group” is typically a C₁₋₁₈carbamoyl radical, preferably C₁₈ carbamoyl radical, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, carbamoyl, methylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl, n-butylcarbamoyl, tert-butylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyloxy, morpholinocarbamoyl or pyrrolidinocarbamoyl.

The term “alkanoyl” represents an alkyl group attached to the parent molecular group through a carbonyl group and is exemplified by formyl, acetyl, propionyl, and butanoyl.

The term “silyl group” means a group of formula —SiR⁶²R⁶³R⁶⁴, wherein R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are independently of each other a C₁-C₈alkyl group, in particular a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₇-C₁₂aralkylgroup, such as a trimethylsilyl group. The term “siloxanyl group” means a group of formula —O—SiR⁶²R⁶³R⁶⁴, wherein R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are as defined above, such as a trimethylsiloxanyl group.

A cycloalkyl group is typically C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl, such as, for example, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, cycloundecyl, cyclododecyl, preferably cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The cycloalkyl group, or cycloalkenyl group, in particular a cyclohexyl group, can be condensed one or two times by phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₄-alkyl, halogen and cyano. Examples of such condensed cyclohexyl groups are:

in particular

wherein R¹⁵¹, R¹⁵², R¹⁵³, R¹⁵⁴, R¹⁵⁵ and R¹⁵⁶ are independently of each other C₁-C₈-alkyl, C₁-C₈-alkoxy, halogen and cyano, in particular hydrogen.

C₆-C₂₄aryl (C₆-C₁₈aryl) is typically phenyl, indenyl, azulenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, as-indacenyl, s-indacenyl, acenaphthylenyl, fluorenyl, phenanthryl, fluoranthenyl, triphenlenyl, chrysenyl, naphthacen, picenyl, perylenyl, pentaphenyl, hexacenyl, pyrenyl, or anthracenyl, preferably phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 4-biphenyl, 9-phenanthryl, 2- or 9-fluorenyl, 3- or 4-biphenyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. Examples of C₆-C₁₂aryl are phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 3- or 4-biphenyl, 2- or 9-fluorenyl or 9-phenanthryl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted.

C₇-C₂₅aralkyl is typically benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, ω, ω-dimethyl-ω-phenyl-butyl, ω-phenyl-dodecyl, ω-phenyl-octadecyl, ω-phenyl-eicosyl or ω-phenyl-docosyl, preferably C₇-C₁₈aralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, ω,ω-dimethyl-ω-phenyl-butyl, ω-phenyl-dodecyl or ω-phenyl-octadecyl, and particularly preferred C₇-C₁₂aralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, or ω,ω-dimethyl-ω-phenyl-butyl, in which both the aliphatic hydrocarbon group and aromatic hydrocarbon group may be unsubstituted or substituted. Preferred examples are benzyl, 2-phenylethyl, β-phenylpropyl, naphthylethyl, naphthylmethyl, and cumyl.

Heteroaryl is typically C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, i.e. a ring with five to seven ring atoms or a condensed ring system, wherein nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur are the possible hetero atoms, and is typically an unsaturated heterocyclic group with five to 30 atoms having at least six conjugated π-electrons such as thienyl, benzo[b]thienyl, dibenzo[b,d]thienyl, thianthrenyl, furyl, furfuryl, 2H-pyranyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, dibenzofuranyl, phenoxythienyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, bipyridyl, triazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, chinolyl, isochinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, chinoxalinyl, chinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzoxazolyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazinyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl or phenoxazinyl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted.

Possible substituents of the above-mentioned groups are C₁-C₈alkyl, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₁-C₈alkylthio, halogen, halo-C₁-C₈alkyl, a cyano group, a carbamoyl group, a nitro group or a silyl group, especially C₁-C₈alkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₁-C₈alkylthio, halogen, halo-C₁-C₈alkyl, or a cyano group.

C₁-C₂₅alkyl (C₁-C₁₈alkyl) interrupted by one or more O is, for example, (CH₂CH₂O)₁₋₉R⁴⁴, where R⁴⁴ is H or C₁-C₁₀alkyl, CH₂—CH(OR^(y′))—CH₂—O—R^(y), where R^(y) is C₁-C₂₅alkyl (C₁-C₁₈alkyl), and R^(y′) embraces the same definitions as R^(y) or is H.

If a substituent, such as, for example R³, occurs more than one time in a group, it can be different in each occurrence.

Advantageously, the compounds of the present invention, or an organic semiconductor material, layer or component, comprising the compounds of the present invention can be used in organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes, or in an organic field effect transistor (OFET).

The compounds of the formula I can show p-type transistor behavior and can be used as the semiconductor layer in semiconductor devices. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a semiconductor device comprising as a semiconducting effective means a compound of the formula I.

The invention relates especially to a semiconductor device comprising as a semiconducting effective means a compound of the formula I described in the Examples selected from the compounds having the formulae A-1 to A-22, B-1 and B-2, respectively, which are depicted in claim 10.

Preferably said semiconductor device is a diode, a photodiode, a sensor, an organic field effect transistor (OFET), a transistor for flexible displays, or a solar cell, or a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor, and/or a solar cell. There are numerous types of semiconductor devices. Common to all is the presence of one or more semiconductor materials. Semiconductor devices have been described, for example, by S. M. Sze in Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 2^(nd) edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York (1981). Such devices include rectifiers, transistors (of which there are many types, including p-n-p, n-p-n, and thin-film transistors), light emitting semiconductor devices (for example, organic light emitting diodes in display applications or backlight in e.g. liquid crystal displays), photoconductors, current limiters, solar cells, thermistors, p-n junctions, field-effect diodes, Schottky diodes, and so forth. In each semiconductor device, the semiconductor material is combined with one or more metals and/or insulators to form the device. Semiconductor devices can be prepared or manufactured by known methods such as, for example, those described by Peter Van Zant in Microchip Fabrication, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000). In particular, organic electronic components can be manufactured as described by D. R. Gamota et al. in Printed Organic and Molecular Electronics, Kluver Academic Publ., Boston, 2004.

A particularly useful type of transistor device, the thin-film transistor (TFT), generally includes a gate electrode, a gate dielectric on the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode adjacent to the gate dielectric, and a semiconductor layer adjacent to the gate dielectric and adjacent to the source and drain electrodes (see, for example, S. M. Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 2^(nd) edition, John Wiley and Sons, page 492, New York (1981)). These components can be assembled in a variety of configurations. More specifically, an organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) has an organic semiconductor layer.

Typically, a substrate supports the OTFT during manufacturing, testing, and/or use. Optionally, the substrate can provide an electrical function for the OTFT. Useful substrate materials include organic and inorganic materials. For example, the substrate can comprise silicon materials inclusive of various appropriate forms of silicon, inorganic glasses, ceramic foils, polymeric materials (for example, acrylics, polyester, epoxies, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyimides, polyketones, poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl-1,4-phenylene) (sometimes referred to as poly(ether ether ketone) or PEEK), polynorbornenes, polyphenyleneoxides, poly(ethylene naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS)), filled polymeric materials (for example, fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP)), and coated metallic foils. The substrate can have any suitable thickness, preferably in the range of 100 m to 10 mm, even more preferably from 10 □m to 1 mm.

The gate electrode can be any useful conductive material. For example, the gate electrode can comprise doped silicon, or a metal, such as aluminum, chromium, gold, silver, nickel, palladium, platinum, tantalum, and titanium. Conductive oxides, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), or conducting inks/pastes comprised of carbon black/graphite or colloidal silver dispersions, optionally containing polymer binders can also be used. Conductive polymers also can be used, for example polyaniline or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). In addition, alloys, combinations, and multilayers of these materials can be useful. In some OTFTs, the same material can provide the gate electrode function and also provide the support function of the substrate. For example, doped silicon can function as the gate electrode and support the OTFT.

The gate dielectric is generally provided on the gate electrode. This gate dielectric electrically insulates the gate electrode from the balance of the OTFT device. Useful materials for the gate dielectric can comprise, for example, an inorganic electrically insulating material.

The gate dielectric (insulator) can be a material, such as, an oxide, nitride, or it can be a material selected from the family of ferroelectric insulators (e.g. organic materials such as poly(vinylidene fluoride/trifluoroethylene or poly(m-xylylene adipamide)), or it can be an organic polymeric insulator (e.g. poly(methacrylate)s, poly(acrylate)s, polyimides, benzocyclobutenes (BCBs), parylenes, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylphenol (PVP), polystyrenes, polyester, polycarbonates) as for example described in J. Veres et al. Chem. Mat. 2004, 16, 4543 or A. Facchetti et al. Adv. Mat. 2005, 17, 1705. Specific examples of materials useful for the gate dielectric include strontiates, tantalates, titanates, zirconates, aluminum oxides, silicon oxides, tantalum oxides, titanium oxides, silicon nitrides, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium zirconate titanate, zinc selenide, and zinc sulphide, including but not limited to PbZr_(x)Ti_(1-x)O₃ (PZT), Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, BaMgF₄, Ba(Zr_(1-x)Ti_(x))O₃ (BZT). In addition, alloys, hybride materials (e.g. polysiloxanes or nanoparticle-filled polymers) combinations, and multilayers of these materials can be used for the gate dielectric. The thickness of the dielectric layer is, for example, from about 10 to 1000 nm, with a more specific thickness being about 100 to 500 nm, providing a capacitance in the range of 0.1-100 nanofarads (nF).

The source electrode and drain electrode are separated from the gate electrode by the gate dielectric, while the organic semiconductor layer can be over or under the source electrode and drain electrode. The source and drain electrodes can be any useful conductive material favourably providing a low resistance ohmic contact to the semiconductor layer. Useful materials include most of those materials described above for the gate electrode, for example, aluminum, barium, calcium, chromium, gold, silver, nickel, palladium, platinum, titanium, polyaniline, PEDOT:PSS, other conducting polymers, alloys thereof, combinations thereof, and multilayers thereof. Some of these materials are appropriate for use with n-type semiconductor materials and others are appropriate for use with p-type semiconductor materials, as is known in the art.

The thin film electrodes (that is, the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode) can be provided by any useful means such as physical vapor deposition (for example, thermal evaporation or sputtering) or (ink jet) printing methods. The patterning of these electrodes can be accomplished by known methods such as shadow masking, additive photolithography, subtractive photolithography, printing, microcontact printing, and pattern coating.

The present invention further provides a thin film transistor device comprising a plurality of electrically conducting gate electrodes disposed on a substrate; a gate insulator layer disposed on said electrically conducting gate electrodes; a plurality of sets of electrically conductive source and drain electrodes disposed on said insulator layer such that each of said sets is in alignment with each of said gate electrodes; an organic semiconductor layer disposed in the channel between source and drain electrodes on said insulator layer substantially overlapping said gate electrodes; wherein said organic semiconductor layer comprise a compound of the formula I.

The present invention further provides a process for preparing a thin film transistor device comprising the steps of:

depositing a plurality of electrically conducting gate electrodes on a substrate; depositing a gate insulator layer on said electrically conducting gate electrodes; depositing a plurality of sets of electrically conductive source and drain electrodes on said layer such that each of said sets is in alignment with each of said gate electrodes; depositing a layer comprising a compound of the formula I on said insulator layer such that said layer comprising the compound of formula I substantially overlaps said gate electrodes, thereby producing the thin film transistor device.

The above-mentioned layer comprising a compound of formula I may additionally comprise at least another material. The other material can be, but is not restricted to another compound of the formula I, a semi-conducting polymer, a polymeric binder, organic small molecules different from a compound of the formula I, carbon nanotubes, a fullerene derivative, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, TiO₂, ZnO etc.), conductive particles (Au, Ag etc.), and insulator materials like the ones described for the gate dielectric (PET, PS etc.). As stated above, the semiconductive layer can also be composed of a mixture of one or more small molecules of the formula I and a polymeric binder. The ratio of the small molecules of formula I to the polymeric binder can vary from 5 to 95 percent. Preferably, the polymeric binder is a semicristalline polymer such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). With this technique, a degradation of the electrical performance can be avoided (cf. WO 2008/001123 A1).

Any suitable substrate can be used to prepare the thin films of the compounds of the formula I. Preferably, the substrate used to prepare the above thin films is a metal, silicon, plastic, paper, coated paper, fabric, glass or coated glass.

Alternatively, a TFT is fabricated, for example, by solution deposition, or vacuum deposition of a compound of the formula I on a highly doped silicon substrate covered with a thermally grown oxide layer followed by vacuum deposition and patterning of source and drain electrodes.

In yet another approach, a TFT is fabricated by deposition of source and drain electrodes on a highly doped silicon substrate covered with a thermally grown oxide and then solution deposition of the compound of the formula I to form a thin film.

The gate electrode could also be a patterned metal gate electrode on a substrate or a conducting material such as a conducting polymer, which is then coated with an insulator applied either by solution coating or by vacuum deposition on the patterned gate electrodes.

Any suitable solvent can be used to dissolve, and/or disperse a compound of the formula I, provided it is inert and can be removed partly, or completely from the substrate by conventional drying means (e.g. application of heat, reduced pressure, airflow etc.). Suitable organic solvents for processing the semiconductors of the invention include, but are not limited to, aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated such as chlorinated or fluorinated hydrocarbons, esters, ethers amides, such as chloroform, tetrachloroethane, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, tetraline, anisole, xylene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethyl formamide, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) and mixtures thereof. The solution, and/or dispersion is then applied by a method, such as, spin-coating, dip-coating, screen printing, microcontact printing, doctor blading or other solution application techniques known in the art on the substrate to obtain thin films of the semiconducting material.

The term “dispersion” covers any composition comprising a compound of the formula I, which is not fully dissolved in a solvent. The dispersion can be done selecting a composition including at least a compound of formula I, or a mixture containing a compound of formula I, and a solvent, wherein the polymer exhibits lower solubility in the solvent at room temperature but exhibits greater solubility in the solvent at an elevated temperature, wherein the composition gels when the elevated temperature is lowered to a first lower temperature without agitation;

-   -   dissolving at the elevated temperature at least a portion of the         compound of the formula I in the solvent; lowering the         temperature of the composition from the elevated temperature to         the first lower temperature; agitating the composition to         disrupt any gelling, wherein the agitating commences at any time         prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to the lowering the         elevated temperature of the composition to the first lower         temperature; depositing a layer of the composition wherein the         composition is at a second lower temperature lower than the         elevated temperature; and drying at least partially the layer.

The dispersion can also be constituted of (a) a continuous phase comprising a solvent, a binder resin, and optionally a dispersing agent, and (b) a disperse phase comprising a compound of formula I, or a mixture containing a compound of formula I of the present invention. The degree of solubility of the compound of formula I in the solvent may vary for example from 0.5% to about 20% solubility, particularly from 1% to about 5% solubility.

Preferably, the thickness of the organic semiconductor layer is in the range of from about 5 to about 1000 nm, especially the thickness is in the range of from about 10 to about 100 nm.

The compounds of the formula I can be used alone or in combination as the organic semiconductor layer of the semiconductor device. The layer can be provided by any useful means, such as, for example, vapor deposition and printing techniques. The compounds of the formula I which are sufficiently soluble in organic solvents can be solution deposited and patterned (for example, by spin coating, dip coating, ink jet printing, gravure printing, flexo printing, offset printing, screen printing, microcontact (wave)-printing, drop or zone casting, or other known techniques).

The compounds of the formula I can be used in integrated circuits comprising a plurality of OTFTs, as well as in various electronic articles. Such articles include, for example, radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags, backplanes for flexible displays (for use in, for example, personal computers, cell phones, or handheld devices), smart cards, memory devices, sensors (e.g. light-, image-, bio-, chemo-, mechanical- or temperature sensors), especially photodiodes, or security devices and the like. Due to its ambi-polarity the material can also be used in Organic Light Emitting Transistors (OLET).

In addition, the invention provides organic photovoltaic (PV) devices (solar cells) comprising a compound of the formula I. The structure of organic photovoltaic devices (solar cells) is, for example, described in C. Deibel et al. Rep. Prog. Phys. 73 (2010) 096401 and Christoph Brabec, Energy Environ. Sci 2. (2009) 347-303.

The PV device comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode), (b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride, (c) a photoactive layer, (d) optionally a smoothing layer, (e) an anode (electrode), (f) a substrate.

The photoactive layer comprises the compounds of the formula I. Preferably, the photoactive layer is made of a compound of the formula I, as an electron donor and an acceptor material, like a fullerene, particularly a functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. As stated above, the photoactive layer may also contain a polymeric binder. The ratio of the small molecules of formula I to the polymeric binder can vary from 5 to 95 percent. Preferably, the polymeric binder is a semicristalline polymer such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

The fullerenes useful in this invention may have a broad range of sizes (number of carbon atoms per molecule). The term fullerene as used herein includes various cage-like molecules of pure carbon, including Buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) and the related “spherical” fullerenes as well as carbon nanotubes. Fullerenes may be selected from those known in the art ranging from, for example, C₂₀-C₁₀₀₀. Preferably, the fullerene is selected from the range of C₆₀ to C₉₆. Most preferably the fullerene is C₆₀ or C₇₀, such as [60]PCBM, or [70]PCBM. It is also permissible to utilize chemically modified fullerenes, provided that the modified fullerene retains acceptor-type and electron mobility characteristics. The acceptor material can also be a material selected from the group consisting of another compound of formula I or any semi-conducting polymer provided that the polymers retain acceptor-type and electron mobility characteristics, organic small molecules, carbon nanotubes, inorganic particles (quantum dots, quantum rods, quantum tripods, TiO₂, ZnO etc.).

For heterojunction solar cells (bulk heterojunction solar cells) the active layer comprises preferably a mixture of a compound of the formula I and a fullerene, such as [60]PCBM (=6,6-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester), or [70]PCBM, in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:3. Methanofullerene Phenyl-C₆₁-Butyric-Acid-Methyl-Ester ([60]PCBM), i.e. 1-[3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl]-1-phenyl-[6.6]C₆₁-3′H-cyclopropa[1,9][5,6]fullerene-C₆₀-lh-3′-butanoic acid 3′-phenyl methyl ester, is an effective solution processable n-type organic semiconductor. It is blended with conjugated polymers with nano-particles such as C₆₀.

The electrodes are preferably composed of metals or “metal substitutes”. Herein the term “metal” is used to embrace both materials composed of an elementally pure metal, e.g., Mg, and also metal alloys which are materials composed of two or more elementally pure metals, e.g., Mg and Ag together, denoted Mg:Ag. Here, the term “metal substitute” refers to a material that is not a metal within the normal definition, but which has the metal-like properties that are desired in certain appropriate applications. Commonly used metal substitutes for electrodes and charge transfer layers would include doped wide-bandgap semiconductors, for example, transparent conducting oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO), gallium indium tin oxide (GITO), and zinc indium tin oxide (ZITO). Another suitable metal substitute is the transparent conductive polymer polyanaline (PANI) and its chemical relatives, or PEDOT:PSS. Metal substitutes may be further selected from a wide range of non-metallic materials, wherein the term “non-metallic” is meant to embrace a wide range of materials provided that the material is free of metal in its chemically uncombined form.

Highly transparent, non-metallic, low resistance cathodes or highly efficient, low resistance metallic/non-metallic compound cathodes are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,031 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,436.

The substrate can be, for example, a plastic (flexible substrate), or glass substrate.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a smoothing layer is situated between the anode and the photoactive layer. A preferred material for this smoothing layer comprises a film of 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), or 3,4-polyethylenedioxy-thiophene:polystyrene-sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photovoltaic cell comprises, as described for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,436 a transparent glass carrier, onto which an electrode layer made of indium/tin oxide (ITO) is applied. This electrode layer generally has a comparatively rough surface structure, so that it is covered with a smoothing layer made of a polymer, typically PEDOT, which is made electrically conductive through doping. The photoactive layer is made of two components, has a layer thickness of, for example, 100 nm to a few μm depending on the application method, and is applied onto this smoothing layer. The photoactive layer is made of a compound of the formula I, as an electron donor and a fullerene, particularly functionalized fullerene PCBM, as an electron acceptor. These two components are mixed with a solvent and applied as a solution onto the smoothing layer by, for example, the spin-coating method, the drop casting method, the Langmuir-Blodgett (“LB”) method, the ink jet printing method and the dripping method. A squeegee or printing method could also be used to coat larger surfaces with such a photoactive layer. Instead of toluene, which is typical, a dispersion agent such as chlorobenzene is preferably used as a solvent. Among these methods, the vacuum deposition method, the spin-coating method, the ink jet printing method and the casting method are particularly preferred in view of ease of operation and cost.

In the case of forming the layer by using the spin-coating method, the casting method and ink jet printing method, the coating can be carried out using a solution and/or dispersion prepared by dissolving, or dispersing the composition in a concentration of from 0.01 to 90% by weight in an appropriate organic solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetrahydrofurane, methyltetrahydrofurane, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetone, acetonitrile, anisole, dichloromethane, dimethylsulfoxide, chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene and mixtures thereof.

Before a counter electrode is applied, a thin transition layer, which must be electrically insulating, having a layer thickness of, for example, 0.6 nm, is applied to the photoactive layer. In this exemplary embodiment, this transition layer is made of an alkali halogenide, namely a lithium fluoride, which is vapor deposited in a vacuum of 2·10⁻⁶ torr at a rate of 0.2 nm/minute.

If ITO is used as a hole-collecting electrode, aluminum, which is vapor deposited onto the electrically insulating transition layer, is used as an electron-collecting electrode. The electric insulation properties of the transition layer obviously prevent influences which hinder the crossing of the charge carrier from being effective, particularly in the transition region from the photoactive layer to the transition layer.

In a further embodiment of the invention, one or more of the layers may be treated with plasma prior to depositing the next layer. It is particularly advantageous that prior to the deposition of the PEDOT:PSS layer the anode material is subjected to a mild plasma treatment.

As an alternative to PEDOT:PSS a crosslinkable hole-transport material based on triarylamines as referenced in Macromol. Rapid Commun. 20, 224-228 (1999) can be used. In addition to the triarylamine material the layer can also include an electron acceptor to improve electron transport. Such compounds are disclosed in US 2004/0004433. Preferably, the electron acceptor material is soluble in one or more organic solvents. Typically, the electron acceptor material is present in the range of 0.5 to 20% by weight of the triarylamine material.

The photovoltaic (PV) device can also consist of multiple junction solar cells that are processed on top of each other in order to absorb more of the solar spectrum. Such structures are, for example, described in App. Phys. Let. 90, 143512 (2007), Adv. Funct. Mater. 16, 1897-1903 (2006) and WO2004/112161 and Christoph Brabec, Energy Environ. Sci 2. (2009) 347-303.

A so called ‘tandem solar cell’ comprise in this order:

(a) a cathode (electrode), (b) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride, (c) a photoactive layer, (d) optionally a smoothing layer, (e) a middle electrode (such as Au, Al, ZnO, TiO₂ etc.) (f) optionally an extra electrode to match the energy level, (g) optionally a transition layer, such as an alkali halogenide, especially lithium fluoride, (h) a photoactive layer, (i) optionally a smoothing layer, (j) an anode (electrode), (k) a substrate.

The PV device can also be processed on a fiber as described, for example, in US20070079867 and US 20060013549.

Due to their excellent self-organising properties the materials or films comprising the compounds of the formula I can also be used alone or together with other materials in or as alignment layers in LCD or OLED devices, as described for example in US2003/0021913.

Various features and aspects of the present invention are illustrated further in the examples that follow. While these examples are presented to show one skilled in the art how to operate within the scope of this invention, they are not to serve as a limitation on the scope of the invention where such scope is only defined in the claims. Unless otherwise indicated in the following examples and elsewhere in the specification and claims, all parts and percentages are by weight, temperatures are in degrees centigrade and pressures are at or near atmospheric.

EXAMPLES Example 1

a) 20 g of [88949-34-2] and 25.76 g of potassium carbonate are suspended in 300 ml of dry dimethylformamide and the mixture is heated to 90° C. under nitrogen. Then 79 g of [1044598-79-9] are added drop wise. The reaction mixture is then stirred for 6 h at 90° C. After cooling to room temperature ethylacetate is added and the mixture is washed with water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent is evaporated. The product is purified by column chromatography over silica to obtain compound 1. ¹H-NMR data (ppm, CDCl₃): 8.33 2H d, 7.60 2H d, 6.68 2H d×d, 4.03 4H d, 1.85-1.75 2H m, 1.45-1.15 48H m, 0.88 6H t, 0.86 6H t.

b) 26.30 g of compound 1 are dissolved in 300 ml of chloroform. The mixture is cooled to −10° C. and then 11.42 g of N-bromo-succinimid (NBS) are added and the mixture is stirred for 2 hours at −10° C. The reaction mixture is washed with water, dried with magnesium sulfate and the solvent is evaporated. The crude product is purified by column chromatography over silica to obtain compound 2. ¹H-NMR data (ppm, CDCl₃): 8.35 1H d, 8.30 1H d, 7.62 1H d, 6.71 1H d×d, 6.62 1H d, 4.03 2H d, 4.00 2H d, 1.87-1.75 2H m, 1.45-1.20 48H m, 0.88 6H t, 0.86 6H t.

c) 232 mg of compound 2, 58 mg of compound [1256165-36-2], 2 mg of Pd(OAc)₂ and 25 mg of 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)-1-phenylindole are placed into a reactor under Argon. Then 20 ml oxygen free THF are added and the reaction mixture is heated to 50° C. Then 37 mg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate are added and the reaction mixture is then heated for 2 hours at reflux temperature. The reaction mixture is poured on ice/water and then extracted with chloroform. The organic solution is dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated. Compound 3 is then obtained after column chromatography of the crude product. ¹H-NMR data (ppm, CDCl₃): 8.46 2H d, 8.36 2H d, 7.71 2H s, 7.62 2H s, 7.59 2H d, 6.89 2H d, 6.70 2H d, 4.13 4H d, 4.03 4H d, 1.96 2H broad s, 1.83 2H broad s, 1.45-1.15 96H m, 0.89 12H t, 0.82 12H t.

Example 2

Two equivalents of compound 2 and 1 equivalent of compound [175361-81-6] are reacted according to the example 1 to obtain compound 4.

Example 3

Two equivalents of compound 2 and 1 equivalent of compound [239075-02-6] are reacted according to the example 1 to obtain compound 5.

Example 4

Two equivalents of compound 2 and 1 equivalent of compound [476004-84-9] are reacted according to the example 1 to obtain compound 6.

Example 5

Two equivalents of compound 2 and 1 equivalent of compound [849543-98-2] are reacted according to the example 1 to obtain compound 7.

Application Example 1 Bottom Gate Bottom Contact (BGBC) Field-Effect Transistor (FET)

Standard procedure for transistors on silicon substrates: Heavily doped silicon wafers (Si n-(425±40 μm) with a 230 nm thick thermally grown silicon dioxide layer having on top of the silicon dioxide layer indium tin oxide (15 nm)/gold (30 nm) contacts are used as substrates. The substrates are prepared by standard cleaning in acetone and i-propanol followed by oxygen plasma treatment for 30 minutes and are then transferred in a glove box and treated with octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) to achieve a hydrophobic monolayer.

Deposition of Semiconductor Film:

The semiconductor, compound 3, is dissolved in toluene in a concentration of 0.75% by weight at elevated temperature and is spin-coated at 1500 rounds per minute (rpm) for 60 seconds onto the silicon dioxide/silicon substrate. All electrical measurements are performed under a nitrogen atmosphere in a glove box with a gate voltage (Vg) varying from 10 to −30 V and at a drain voltage (Vd) equal to 3 and 30V for the transfer characterisation. For the output characterization Vd is varied from 0 to −30V at Vg=0, 10, 20, 30 V. The measured mobilities represent the saturation mobilities at Vd=−30V.

The compound 3 has excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. The FET of Application Example 1, where the semiconductor layer consists of compound 3, shows p-type characteristics with excellent processibility and reproducibility.

Application Example 2 Organic Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cell

The solar cell has the following structure: Al electrode/LiF layer/organic layer, comprising compound 3 and 1-[3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl]-1-phenyl-[6.6]C₆₁ 3′H-cyclopropa[1,9][5,6]fullerene-C₆₀-lh-3′-butanoic acid 3′-phenyl methyl ester ([60]PCBM)/[poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) (PEDOT) in admixture with poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS)]/ITO electrode/glass substrate. The solar cells are made by spin coating a layer of the PEDOT-PSS on a pre-patterned ITO on glass substrate. Then a 1:2 mixture of the compound of the present invention (1% by weight):[60]PCBM (a substituted C₆₀ fullerene) is spin coated from chloroform. (organic layer). LiF and Al are sublimed under high vacuum through a shadow-mask.

Solar Cell Performance:

The solar cell is measured under Aescusoft solar light simulator with halogen light source. The current is estimated under AM1.5 conditions using the External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) graph.

The solar cell of Application Example 1, where the semiconductor layer consists of compound 3 and [60]PCBM, shows OPV characteristics with excellent processibility and reproducibility. 

1. A compound of formula (I)

wherein p is 0, or 1, q is 0, or 1, A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

a is 1 or 2; b is 0, 1 or 2; c is 0, 1 or 2; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₀₀alkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₂-C₁₀₀alkenyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₀₀alkinyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, a C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl; R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted one or more times by E and/or interrupted one or more times by D,

COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈thioalkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, or a group of formula

Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —Si(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —Ge(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═CR¹⁴R¹⁵)—,

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo,

or form a five or six membered ring, which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CN or COOR⁵⁰; R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which optionally can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R²⁰ and R²¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the (hetero)aromatic residue and which may both have up to 4 carbon atoms, R³⁰ to R³⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁵⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other H, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms, D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —O—, —NR³⁹—, or —C(═O)NR³⁹—, E is C₁-C₈thioalkoxy, COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, CN, —NR³⁹R^(39′), —CONR³⁹R^(39′), or halogen, G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³⁹ and R^(39′) are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, with the proviso that at least one of the groups Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ is a group of formula

and the further proviso that Ar⁵ is different from a group

if q is 0, p is 0, k is 0, r is 0, z is 0 and l is
 1. 2. The compound according to claim 1 of formula (Ia), (Ib) or (Ic)

.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein A1 and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is a hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, or a group of formula

wherein R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms.
 5. The compound according to claim 4, wherein A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other

and R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl.
 6. The compound according to claim 1, wherein A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl.
 7. The compound according to claim 5, wherein A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k and z are 0, or 1; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0; Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are a group of formula

Ar⁵ is a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3, R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy.
 8. The compound according to claim 1 of formula (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc),

wherein b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, A³, A⁴, Ar⁵ and Ar⁶ are independently of each other a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other

R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl, R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy.
 9. The compound according to claim 1 of formula (A-1)-(A22), (B-1) or (B-2)


10. A semiconductor device comprising a compound of the formula I as defined in claim
 1. 11. A semiconductor device according to claim 10 in the form of a diode, a photodiode, a sensor, an organic field effect transistor, a transistor for flexible displays, or a solar cell.
 12. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl.
 13. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ia)

where R² is R^(1*), comprising (a) reacting in the presence of a strong base 2 moles of a compound of formula (XV) and (XV′)

where R²⁰⁰ and R^(200′) are independently of each other a C₁-C₈alkyl group, or a benzyl group, with 1 mole of a di-nitrile compound of formula

and (b) alkylation of the compound of formula

obtained in step (a) with a compound R²—X¹⁶ where X¹⁶ is halogen, under basic conditions in a dry solvent; or a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ib)

where R¹═R²═R^(1*)═R^(2*), comprising (a) reacting in the presence of a strong base 2 moles of a disuccinate with 1 mole of a nitrile of formula

and 2 moles of a nitrile of formula

and (b) reacting the compound of formula

obtained in step a) with a bromide of formula R¹—X¹⁶ where X¹⁶ is halogen, in the presence of a suitable base in a suitable solvent, wherein A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

a is 1 or 2; b is 0, 1 or 2; c is 0, 1 or 2; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R¹, R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₀₀alkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₂-C₁₀₀alkenyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₀₀alkinyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₆-C₄aryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, a C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl; R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted one or more times by E and/or interrupted one or more times by D,

COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈thioalkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, or a group of formula S

Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —Si(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —Ge(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═CR¹⁴R¹⁵)—,

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo,

or form a five or six membered ring, which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CN or COOR⁵⁰; R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which optionally can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R²⁰ and R²¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the (hetero)aromatic residue and which may both have up to 4 carbon atoms, R³⁰ to R³⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁵⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other H, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms, D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —O—, —NR³⁹—, or —C(═O)NR³⁹—, E is C₁-C₈thioalkoxy, COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, CN, —NR³⁹R^(39′), —CONR³⁹R^(39′), or halogen, G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³⁹ and R^(39′) are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, with the proviso that at least one of the groups Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ is a group of formula

and the further proviso that Ar⁵ is different from a group

if q is 0, p is 0, k is 0, r is 0, z is 0 and l is
 1. 14. A compound of formula (X)

wherein A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a group of formula

R^(3′) is independently in each occurrence ZnX¹², —SnR²⁰⁷R²⁰⁸R²⁰⁹, wherein R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸ and R²⁰⁹ are identical or different and are H or C₁-C₆alkyl, wherein two radicals optionally form a common ring and these radicals are optionally branched or unbranched; X¹² is a halogen atom, —OS(O)₂CF₃, —OS(O)₂-aryl, —OS(O)₂CH₃, —B(OH)₂, —B(OH)₃, —BF₃, —B(OY¹)₂,

wherein Y¹ is independently in each occurrence a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group and Y² is independently in each occurrence a C₂-C₁₀alkylene group, and Y¹³ and Y¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, or a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group; p is 0, or 1, q is 0, or 1, A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

a is 1 or 2; b is 0, 1 or 2; c is 0, 1 or 2; k is 0, 1 or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or l; z is 0, 1 or 2; R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1″), R^(2″), R^(1*) and R^(2*) may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₀₀alkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₂-C₁₀₀alkenyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₀₀alkinyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁ cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group and/or can optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, —NR³⁹—, —COO—, —CO— or —OCO—, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, a C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl group which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, halogen, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, nitro, cyano, vinyl, allyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, a silyl group or a siloxanyl group, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl; Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a bivalent group of formula

X is —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, —Si(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —Ge(R¹⁸)(R¹⁹)—, —C(R¹²)(R¹³)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═CR¹⁴R¹⁵)—,

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, R¹² and R¹³ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R¹² and R¹³ together represent oxo,

or form a five or six membered ring, which is unsubstituted or substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, —CN or COOR⁵⁰; R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or a phenyl group, which optionally can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₈alkyl and/or C₁-C₈alkoxy, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or R²⁰ and R²¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the (hetero)aromatic residue and which may both have up to 4 carbon atoms, R³⁰ to R³⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₂-C₂₅alkenyl, C₂-C₂₅alkyl which is interrupted by one or more —O— or —S—, COOR⁵⁰, cyano, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl halogen or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, R⁵⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other H, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, which is substituted by G, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene or alkenylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms, D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —O—, —NR³⁹—, or —C(═O)NR³⁹—, E is C₁-C₈thioalkoxy, COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₈alkoxy, CN, —NR³⁹R^(39′), —CONR³⁹R^(39′), or halogen, G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³⁹ and R^(39′) are independently of each other hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkanoyl, with the proviso that at least one of the groups Ar¹, Ar², Ar³, Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ is a group of formula

and the further proviso that Ar⁵ is different from a group,

if q is 0, p is 0, k is 0, r is 0, z is 0 and l is
 1. 15. The compound according to claim 2, wherein A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, or a group of formula

wherein R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms.
 16. The compound according to claim 12, wherein A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R³ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, or a group of formula

wherein R⁶⁰ to R⁶⁸ represent independently of each other hydrogen or C₁-C₂₅alkyl; and R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ together represent alkylene which may be both bonded via oxygen and/or sulfur to the thienyl residue and which may both have up to 25 carbon atoms.
 17. The compound according to claim 16, wherein A¹ and A² are independently of each other a group of formula

wherein a is 1, b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other,

and R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl.
 18. The compound according to claim 17, wherein A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0, or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; Ar⁴, Ar⁵, Ar⁶ and Ar⁷ are independently of each other a group of formula

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl or COO—C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, or

R^(x) is a C₁-C₁₂alkyl group, or a tri(C₁-C₈alkyl)silyl group, R²⁰ and R²¹ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R³⁰ to R³⁵ are independently of each other hydrogen, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl.
 19. The compound according to claim 17, wherein A³, A⁴ and A⁵ are independently of each other a group of formula

k and z are 0, or 1; l is 1, 2, or 3; r is 0; Ar⁴ and Ar⁷ are a group of formula

Ar⁵ is a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3, R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy.
 20. The compound according to claim 19 of formula (IIa), (IIb), (IIc), (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc),

wherein b is 0, or 1, c is 0, or 1, A³, A⁴, Ar⁵ and Ar⁶ are independently of each other a group of formula

y is 1, 2, or 3, Ar² and Ar³ are independently of each other

R¹, R², R^(1′), R^(2′), R^(1*) and R^(2*) are selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₅₀alkyl, C₁-C₅₀haloalkyl, C₇-C₂₅arylalkyl, C₂-C₅₀alkenyl, C₂-C₅₀haloalkenyl, allyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl which can optionally be substituted one or more times with C₁-C₁₂alkyl or C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, —CO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CO—C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl and —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R³ is H, C₁-C₂₅alkyl, or phenyl, R¹⁰ is H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkyl, and R³² and R³³ are H, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy. 